Automatic water heater unit



H. A. CRAIG AUTOMATIC WATER HEATER UNIT May 27, 1941.

Original Filed May 23, 1934 INVENTOR. HARVEYACRMG BV l, TTR

NEY

Patented May 27, 1941 y y AUTOMATIC WATER HEATER UNIT Harvey A. Craig, New York, N. Y., assignor to Rheem Manufacturing Company, Richmond, Calif., a corporation of California Application May 23, 1934, Serial No. 727,080

Renewed December 1, 1937 2 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements inI autoparticularly to heaters boiler or tank in which the water was heated and stored was completely and permanently enclosed within an outer cabinet or insulated jacket of one form or another. Since in this type of heater, repair or replacement of the boiler usually becomes necessary before the unit as a whole has outlived its usefulness, the temporary or permanent removal of the boiler generally entails removing both top and bottom covers of the cabinet, disconnecting of parts difficult of access, marring and possibly mutilating the cabinet or jacket, and removing the insulation material and most frequently rendering it unt for replacement. 'Ihe replacement operationwas likewise tedious and dicult, and so much so that when considered in connection with the removal operation the substitution of the entire original unit with a new one was in most cases the more economical. In view of the foregoing, the present invention has for an object, permitting the removal and replacement of the boiler in a simple and easy manner and 4without disturbing the cabinet covers, and substantially the insulation and the cabinet body.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cabinet or insulated housing for the boiler, which notwithstanding its provision with a removable section large enough to cover an opening permitting passage therethrough of the entire boiler, insures proper heat insulation during the use of the heater and will not detract from `the sturdiness and appearance of the unit.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unit of the character described in which all of the connections and accessories for the operation and control of the heater will be completely concealed within the cabinet or housing, and yet will be easily and conveniently accessible.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing:

Figure 1 is a front view of the unit.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the unit taken at right angles to Figure 1.

.Figure 3 is a plan view of the unit with the top cover of the cabinet removed.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the unit with the removable sectionV of the cabinet and insulation backed out.

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the boiler` while being removed from or inserted into the cabinet.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the unit is of the water storage type provided with a vertically disposed boiler or tank 2 for containing the heated water and arranged to be fired or heated in any suitable manner, such as with gas, oil, electricity, or the like. As here shown the heating is designed to be elected with gaseous fuel, and there is therefore provided a burner 3 which is positioned within the depending side walls of the boiler and is arranged to direct the flame against the relatively elevated bottomwall 5 of the boiler. An opening 6 in the depending portion I of the boiler side walls permits of the ready insertion or withdrawal of the burner. The heated products ascend through a tube B extending verticallyV through the boiler and the products' are vented at the top through a horizontal extension 9. Water is supplied to and drawn off from the boiler through pipes I2 and I3 respectively, and such pipes are preferably provided at the top of the boiler with horizontally extending portions I4 andl Iiiv parallel to each other and the vent 9. It will of course be understood that the design of the boiler and the arrangement of the connections may be otherwise than as above described, the latter being merely one of many designs applicable to the use of the invention.

As will be clear from the drawing, the boiler is arranged for enclosure within a jacket or housing I'I designed to provide a support for the boiler and in general aheat insulating device therefor. The jacket or housing as here shown is formed of a plurality of sections I8 and I9, preferably two in number, with the section I8 providing for the normal support of the boiler and being relatively xedly held, while' the section I9 is designed to function as a removable part of the unit yet cooperate with section I8 in concealing the boiler and accessories and preventing the escape of heat from the boiler. The section I8 is preferably made large enough to permit of the complete insertion of the boiler therein and is thereunto provided with a chamber 2I designed to receive the boiler. The chamber 2i has, along a vertical side olf-section I8, an opening I2 which is .preferably large enough to permit the boiler to be passed horizontally therethrough while in upright position. Closure of the opening 22 is arranged to be effected by engagement of the'removable section il therein.

For eifectively retaining the heat in the boiler there is provided suitable insulation means positioned between the walls of the jacket and theforms with the associated jacket section an independent unit. This arrangement is particularly desirable with respect to the removable section. since in withdrawing or replacing the latter, it

assen-io place. In either case, however, it has been found desirable to insert between the boiler and insulating sections and between the opposing surfaces of the latter, a wrapping of some soft thin sheet material desirably of a heat insulating character, so as to insure a tight fit and prevent sweating between the insulating sections and around theboiler.

Preferably the jacket or housing is provided with a removable heat-insulated cap 4| which is formed with'a short marginal flange I2 arranged to overlie the outer sides of the shells comprising sections Il and il. The sections may be removably secured together by screws 43 or in any other suitable manner.

'Ihe water pipes and flue at the top of the boiler are extended through openings It and 41 in the upper rear portion of the boiler supporting section of the cabinet. thus effectively concealing is only necessary to handle the single composite member and no difficulty will be encountered in replacing the parts in properly related position. In view of theinclusion of the insulation section 23 in the jacket section Il, it is the inner surface 2l of the latter which defines the eilective space in chamber 2i for the reception of the boiler. Since it is desired that the insulating sections closely embrace the boiler, the portions of the surfaces of the sections arranged to lie opposite the boiler are curved or otherwise shaped in conformity with portions of the boiler designed to be covered thereby. In the present instance the boiler is cylindrical, and therefore the surface portions Il and 28 of the respective sections arranged to engage or lie oppositethe boiler are curved at approximately the same radius as the boiler and together define a substantially complete cylindrical space when -the sections are operatively positioned about the boiler. As there are but two sections utilized in the embodiment il-i' lustrated, each section is designed so as tqprovide a curved surface of approximately 180 degrees. As previously explained, the jacket section it preferably providesfor the support of the boiler, and said section, in addition to having a`bottom or platform'li for suchfsupport of the boiler, has included as part thereof extending portions 32 between which the insulated section 2l is arranged to fit. Preferably the surfaces of portions 32 engageable by section 2l are formed to diverge outwardly, and since the surfaces of the section are formed accordingly. a tight wedging -iitbetweenthesectionsisassured Itwillbe evident that the design or form of the portions of the jacket sections providing the exterior of` the unit, is more or less optional. In the unit illustrated the jacket or housing'is generally rectangular in cross section and formed with beveled corners, the section Il by reason of the extensions Il, providing substantially the three sides of the jacket while the section Il provides the fourth side. Depending to a large extent on the character of the insulation material used, each composite section may be provided with an outer shell of metal or other material completely enclosing the insulation, or the shell may be utilised only :for that much of the section which willbe exposed when sections are operatively disposed about the boiler In the latter instance, the boiler engaging and the interengaging D01'- tions of the sections may be left bare or covered with a form retaining type of heat insulation material to hold the inner insulating material in said members, and an important feature in the design of the unit resides in the fact that all of the usual accessories and connections therefor. suchas' the thermostat Il, drain valve I9, and the like, are concealed within the jacket yet are readily accessible when necessary. These parts are usually concentrated at the front of the boiler adjacent the bottom, and as will be clear from Figure l, I have provided in the removable section II an opening Il into which the accessories and parts aforesaid are accommodated when .the section II is in closed position. The opening 5| is covered by a heat insulated door i2 which may be opened whenever access to accessories and parts is desired without withdrawing section Il. l Y

It will now-be clearthat, should it be desired to remove the boiler for repair or replacement, but a minimum number of steps and operations arenecessary.V Ordinarilytheiirststepisto release the attaching means between the cabinet sections. and withdraw the removable section Il with its' associated insulated portion 23, the cap Il being left undisturbed if desired. The

water pipes andiiue at the top of the boilerare then disconnected from the supply Pipe. the wster outlet pipe, and the flue, and at the same time -the gas supply pipe is from the thermostat and burner. If there are any electrical connections the latter may be severed as necessary. With the boiler, connections, and accessories thus released, the boiler may be tiltedasindicatedinlfiguresoastoeifect the ready withdrawal of the waterpipe and flue connections from the openings 46 and I1, and

then the boiler with the connected maybev removedbodilywhileinthetiltedoravertical position. Installation or replacement of a boiler merely involves a reversal of the foregoing opera- Iclaimz Y 4 c 1. In a 'heater of the character described, a substantially cylindrical boiler -with its length Y substantially exceeding its diameter fand having control portions extending from a side thereof, a heat insulating housing for said boiler comprising a section with an exterior portion providing a cabinet for the boiler and an interior POrtion Y arranged to substantially iit around a'segment of 'said boiler, said section having a supporting platf orm for said boiler and provided with an open side substantially equal to the length and width of the boiler whereby the .boilerl may be-moved therethrough to and from' within said while in upright position, and said'openinghav- `ing its opposing sides diverging outwardly.a'

second section having its exterior arranged to coact `with said rst section in providing said cabinet and having its interior coact with said rst section to completely surround said boiler, said second section being designed for detachable connection with the rst section and having side portions corresponding to and arranged to engage said 'sides ofthe said opening, and said second section having anv opening for accommodating said control portions, a releasable closure for said last opening and a removable cap Aover said sections.

2. In a heater of the character described, the combination of an elongated boiler having an Cil HARVEY A. owne; 

